The BBC has announced that the Saturday teatime drama Robin Hood has been
axed, although viewers were given a clue when the hero of the tale was
killed off at the end of the final series.

The show, which averaged between four and five million viewers during its third and final series, pulled in only 1.7 million viewers for its final show on Saturday.

It suffered the slump after being moved to BBC Two from its normal slot on BBC One to make way for live coverage of Andy Murray at Wimbledon.

A BBC spokesman said: "Viewers have enjoyed three fantastic series of Robin Hood but with the death of Robin in last week's finale, we feel that the show has reached its natural conclusion."

There had been discussions for a fourth series, however, the plans have now been shelved.

BBC bosses believe the show, which is famously set in Nottingham but was filmed in Hungary, has now run its course.

It had already been announced that Jonas Armstrong – who stars as Robin – was not going to return if there was another series.

Last Saturday viewers watched as he met a violent end, murdered with a poison-tipped sword.

Greg Brenman, head of drama at Tiger Aspect, which produces the show, said: "We have been immensely proud to be the most recent custodians of the Robin Hood legend. From the outset it was our ambition to find an exciting and modern way of interpreting our version of the hero and his legendary life.

"We have had a fantastic time creating and producing Robin Hood, working with some of the most talented actors, writers and directors in our industry. We are sad to be saying goodbye to this much-loved project."